"Both of you, time is tight, so I'll be brief. Malora's current situation is very likely the result of her being possessed by the mad Danelle. Outsiders might think Danelle and Malora are similar, but no matter what, we are Malora's brothers—we cannot just stand by and watch," Baelor said, fixing his gaze on William. "I know this matter is not your fault, and I don't mean to blame you. But this cannot be made public. Only those of us who know can handle it, and you must bear part of the responsibility."
"If I had known it would come to this, I wouldn't have brought those things back…" William thought bitterly. This was not an innocent mistake at all—it was purely lifting a stone only to drop it on his own foot. "You're right, Ser Baelor. I do bear some responsibility for this."
Baelor then turned to Garth, whose expression was grim, and said sincerely, "William also has Lothston blood, so he's one of her descendants. Meeting her should be fine. For now, try not to provoke her; we need time to prepare."
Garth remained silent. Seeing the usually imposing man with such a conflicted expression, William felt a warmth in his chest. "Ser, there's no need to worry. What Ser Baelor said makes perfect sense. I should be fine going."
Garth sighed and patted William's shoulder. "Even though your martial skills are exceptional, in a mysterious situation like this… there may be nothing you can do. Go and respond as needed, and if there's danger, leave immediately. Make sure you stay safe."
Baelor also gave William an approving look. "Very good, William. Go see her now. No matter what she says, agree first and stabilize her. After you return, we'll discuss the next steps."
William nodded solemnly, bowed to both of them, and turned to the young maid Dora.
Two months later, entering Malora's room again, the same precious books and luxurious furnishings remained, but William's first impression was completely different. Last time, it had a natural, lazy feeling; now, everything was orderly. As he walked inside, he froze after a few steps. By the window stood a lady in a palace gown, her back to him, gazing outside.
Her flame-red hair was styled atop her head in a magnificent arrangement, threaded with gold that gleamed brilliantly; her swan-like neck and partially exposed shoulders, her fair skin against the black gown, looked like sculpted ivory. The smooth gown accentuated her upright figure, the deep color seeming to radiate a seductive power—just her silhouette was enough to hold anyone's gaze.
Sensing William's presence, she slowly turned. The folds of her gown swayed lightly, the subtle patterns catching the light. Her waist was slender as a willow, her figure rolling like waves, her beautiful collarbones just visible. Two spiraling strands framed her face, faintly resembling Margery, but with added maturity and allure.
William swallowed hard. His first thought: Who is this beauty? Then a chill ran down his spine. If he hadn't been mentally prepared, he might have been shocked. He coughed twice, lowering his head to hide his obvious surprise. "Lady Malora, hello."
"Good, William. You've improved again," Malora said, her voice low and magnetic, now carrying an air of nobility and authority. "This makes our plan easier to execute and increases our control."
Do we even have a plan? William felt confused but dared not ask.
"Centuries ago, a few Maesters in the Citadel investigated the Children of the Forest. I only know of Aelon and Wallis. They left writings in the academy, but some crucial manuscripts were never made public. Find everyone involved in those investigations and locate the unpublished manuscripts as soon as possible."
William wanted to ask for clarification, but seeing Malora's unquestionable gaze, he could only say, "At your command, Lady Malora." Then, carefully, he asked, "Do you have any other instructions?"
Malora hummed softly. "Did my good brother come to see you?"
William felt slightly guilty and glanced secretly at her. Her expression was similar to before, seemingly unchanged. "Yes, Ser Baelor asked me what I had brought you. I said I didn't know, because I truly didn't."
"Don't be nervous, William. My brother, though well-meaning, is more trouble than help—a decorative vase at best. Whatever he tries to do, I'm not concerned." Malora's gaze carried a hint of mockery. "Tell me, what kind of embarrassment is he trying to cause this time?"
"Judging by his intelligence, he probably could have guessed whether I said anything or not. In that case…" William wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. "Ser Baelor, he thinks you might have enLordered… some strange events."
"Strange events?"
Summoning his courage and gritting his teeth, William said, "He thinks you've been possessed by the spirit of Lord Danelle Lothston." After saying it, he lowered his head like an ostrich facing danger.
"Hehehe," Malora laughed. "Interesting. I must say, his imagination is quite vivid, William. And what do you think?"
"I think… I think that's complete nonsense," William replied, looking up at her. Her smile was radiant, almost hypnotic, stirring his heart. Hastily, he lowered his head to recall how the Mad Maid used to be, regaining some composure.
"Very interesting." Malora studied William with an inscrutable gaze, then, after a moment, said, "William, go see what that is."
Following the direction of her finger, William saw a huge white veil at the edge of the wall, covering something as tall as a person. He slowly approached, grasped the veil, and glanced back at Malora. When she nodded, he pulled it aside. A life-sized painting appeared before him—depicting a woman almost identical to the current Malora. William felt a chill run over his scalp.
Looking more closely, the painting seemed old but well-preserved; the colors were vivid, the figure lifelike. Though the hairstyle, dress, and demeanor were exactly like the Malora standing beside him, the facial features were still subtly different, which eased William's tension slightly.
"This painting… You brought it back for me. Do you know who she is?" Malora approached gracefully, her gaze fixed on the figure, her fingers lightly tracing the face as if caressing a lover.
Having said that, William could no longer feign ignorance. "This should be Lady Danelle Lothston. My mother and sister also had red hair; it is said to originate from the Lothston family."
Malora turned, the painting beside her, like two extraordinary twin sisters standing side by side, both watching William. Her slightly upturned red lips formed a seductive curve, like a member of a vampiric lineage walking in darkness.
"And now, William… what do you think?"